And the Spurs boss revealed he is already planning for next season with chairman Daniel Levy - and warned his squad they are all playing for their futures for the rest of the season.

Sherwood questioned the bravery and commitment of his men after the 4-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

The Tottenham manager made the comments before two huge games in the next four days - Benfica in the Europa League tomorrow then Arsenal on Sunday.

Asked if he was taking a risk making the criticism just before two big games, Sherwood said: "No. They are men. I'm a manager, not a babysitter.

"We just try and win as many games as we can. We want to win games. How can I take my eye off a London derby against Arsenal but this next one is more important.

"Will it have a galvanising effect on the players? I hope so. They know how I am and how I felt about what happened. We are moving on, you can't dwell on it. They are all men, they all appreciate that I am singing it from the heart, not from the script - I'm not an actor, I work on impulse."

Sherwood was given an 18-month contract when he took over from Andre Villas-Boas in December - and Louis Van Gaal has been heavily linked with the job this summer.

Sherwood said he had asked for no assurances about his future and added: "I've an 18-month contract and I expect to be here a lot longer than that.

"I'm planning for next season. There's no point me planning if someone else is coming in.

"A lot of players here are playing for their future and I think they realise that now. I'm going to have a good look at the whole squad and see who I need to keep and who I need to bring in. They have that chance between now and the end of the season to prove they want to play for a giant club like Tottenham.

"I'm never going to take a step back. I'm just going to shoot from the hip. That's what I'm like.

"There will be changes without a doubt - there always will be. I want players here who want to play for the club and they have between now and the end of the season to show that they are playing for their club and not for themselves. I don't think at any football club a player should be doing them a favour by playing for them."

Sherwood insisted he was already planning for 2014-15 with Levy and technical director Franco Baldini: “It was all about pre-season: Who do I want to keep? A lot of these players here are playing for their future and I think they realise
that now.

"I don’t know if there will be a big overhaul in the summer. That’s for me to decide. You
always need new personnel, [have] players who want to move on.”

Sherwood refused to say whether the seven players brought in with cash from the Gareth Bale transfer were safe from the axe.

“It’s a level playing field, from the kids to the money signings,” he added. “No one’s going to get preferential treatment. I know the ones I can trust and those I can’t.”

Michael Dawson is out with a hamstring injury for both the Benfica and Arsenal matches but Mousa Dembele and Christian Eriksen return to the squad.